BACKGROUND: Since October 1991 the third-generation cell separator Fresenius AS 104 offers a single-needle (SN) option for thrombocytapheresis. Here we present our first 18-month experience with this new single-needle system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed 395 thrombocytaphereses in 225 donors. The influence of blood flow, cycle volume, and interface position on efficacy and leukocyte contamination was evaluated. RESULTS: 395 thrombocytaphereses were performed with an average thrombocyte yield of 3.00 +/- 0.69 x 10(11) platelets and a leukocyte contamination of 1.66 +/- 3.1 x 10(8) per concentrate. Blood flow rates of 50 ml/min (vs. 60 ml/min) and an interface position of 6:2 (vs. 7:1) resulted in a lower leukocyte contamination, but without statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The SN program of the AS 104 provides high thrombocyte yields and less leukocyte contamination than other SN systems, but 77% of the concentrates still contain more than 0.5 x 10(8) leukocytes.
BACKGROUND: Since October 1991 the third-generation cell separator Fresenius AS 104 offers a single-needle (SN) option for thrombocytapheresis. Here we present our first 18-month experience with this new single-needle system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed 395 thrombocytaphereses in 225 donors. The influence of blood flow, cycle volume, and interface position on efficacy and leukocyte contamination was evaluated. RESULTS: 395 thrombocytaphereses were performed with an average thrombocyte yield of 3.00 +/- 0.69 x 10(11) platelets and a leukocyte contamination of 1.66 +/- 3.1 x 10(8) per concentrate. Blood flow rates of 50 ml/min (vs. 60 ml/min) and an interface position of 6:2 (vs. 7:1) resulted in a lower leukocyte contamination, but without statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The SN program of the AS 104 provides high thrombocyte yields and less leukocyte contamination than other SN systems, but 77% of the concentrates still contain more than 0.5 x 10(8) leukocytes.